Offensively, the teams are pretty similar. Both started out with veteran QBs but have gone to their more mobile backups and it's paid dividends. Freshman Colton Joseph has been very good at times but has also looked like a freshman in other games (like Saturday against JMU).
The next two games we'll be playing two of the worst teams we've seen all year in regards to pass protection. ODU has given up 33 sacks (9th most in the country) and JMU has given up 28 (Southern Miss is the worst in SBC with 38 sacks allowed....we've given up 11 sacks all season). Mr. Green should like what he says on the game film this week.
Defensively, they've been tenacious but mostly soft against the run and the pass. They've been without All-World LB Jason Henderson since the 1st game of the year and the initial news out of Norfolk is that he is out for the season and redshirting. Their best pass rusher is LB Mario Thompson - who leads the team with 4 sacks. Overall, they've gotten to the quarterback for 19 sacks on the season - which is 70th in the country.
Safety Jahron Manning is a playmaker who leads the team in tackles (81) and in interceptions (3). He's also forced 3 fumbles.
It's a typical Ricky Rahne ODU team. They'll scratch and claw to the very end and almost every game seems to be a one-possession contest - 5 of their 6 losses are by 8 points or less.
It sounds like broken record, but special teams busts and turnovers will likely be the difference in the game.
The next two games we'll be playing two of the worst teams we've seen all year in regards to pass protection. ODU has given up 33 sacks (9th most in the country) and JMU has given up 28 (Southern Miss is the worst in SBC with 38 sacks allowed....we've given up 11 sacks all season). Mr. Green should like what he says on the game film this week.
Defensively, they've been tenacious but mostly soft against the run and the pass. They've been without All-World LB Jason Henderson since the 1st game of the year and the initial news out of Norfolk is that he is out for the season and redshirting. Their best pass rusher is LB Mario Thompson - who leads the team with 4 sacks. Overall, they've gotten to the quarterback for 19 sacks on the season - which is 70th in the country.
Safety Jahron Manning is a playmaker who leads the team in tackles (81) and in interceptions (3). He's also forced 3 fumbles.
It's a typical Ricky Rahne ODU team. They'll scratch and claw to the very end and almost every game seems to be a one-possession contest - 5 of their 6 losses are by 8 points or less.
It sounds like broken record, but special teams busts and turnovers will likely be the difference in the game.
| Marshall (7-3) | Old Dominion (4-6) | |
| PPG | 30.6 (46th) | 26.1 (87th) |
| Points Allowed | 22.9 (55th) | 26.2 (78th) |
| Total Offense | 383.6 (73rd) | 376.6 (81st) |
| Rush Offense | 200.5 (20th) | 182.5 (41st) |
| Pass Offense | 183.1 (117th) | 194.1 (101st) |
| Offensive Pass Effic | 141.51 (46th) | 124.22 (105th) |
| 3rd Down Offense | 40.3% (72nd) | 40.4% (69th) |
| Total Defense | 376.1 (76th) | 404.6 (103rd) |
| Rush Defense | 174.1 (100th) | 166.3 (95th) |
| Pass Defense | 202.0 (47th) | 238.3 (78th) |
| Defensive Pass Effic | 120.76 (42nd) | 136.07 (78th) |
| 3rd Down Defense | 31.0% (13th) | 43.2% (100th) |
| Turnover Margin Per Game | +0.70 (23rd) | -0.30 (88th) |
| Penalty Yards Per Game | 46.60 (39th) | 53.40 (68th) |
| Net Punting | 37.34 (92nd) | 37.03 (100th) |
